she was dizzy
when she closed her eyes
then opened them again really fast
or even slowly

it appeared as if her head would
roll off one side of her body
like a gutter ball
at a little kid’s bowling party

her doctors agreed  it was
-Acute Labyrinthitis-
the MRI and nervous tests proved it

they were glad of that, too
it ruled out so many other
gravitational possibilities

but I knew
Paula was walking around in circles
too quickly


*Acute Labyrinthitis: n.  an inflammation of the
portion of the inner ear that is responsible for
sensing balance.

** labyrinth n.  a place with a lot of crisscrossing
or complicated paths in which it would be easy
to become lost.